If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

For Australia & New Zealand:"We have a distributor in New Zealand - Automation Equipment Ltd. - +62-7-847-2082 But no direct office - They could order from us via credit card and we could ship parts to them."

All you have to do then is run to the hardware store and get a 3/8" 16 thread tap (and a tap handle), a 5/16 metal drill bit & a 3/8" hex head bolt (you'll have to figure out the length you need, I think mine was about an inch long)

1. The rail (I got 1000mm which is about 39" long and gives you a good 36" of slide), already has 9 evenly spaced holes in it, so all you have to do is tap the middle hole! TAP FROM THE BOTTOM UP. You want this to screw onto your tripod. Always think everything through before doing anything!

2. Find the center of the carriage and drill a straight hole with the 5/16" bit. Tap the hole, again, from the bottom up. Screw the bolt you bought into the carriage so it's sticking out the top. This is where you'll attach your head (I'm just using a Manfrotto 701).

That's it! Screw the rail on the tripod (I'd be sure to sandbag the legs, cause as you go way out, it could tilt over on you), put your head on the carriage, put the carriage on the rail, mount the camera & you're ready to go. Really easy... took me about 1/2 hour including the trip to the hardware store.

I also bought a little tripod, a Manfrotto 190XDB that can get really low to the ground and the legs can spread wide (right out to flat).

Next I want to make a few 'endcaps' out of 4x4 post wood that will allow me to get 4" off the ground...for some cool low, sliding shots! Use your imagination for endless possibilities….

Very easy: All I did was buy a 4' piece of 4x4 deck post and had Home Depot cut me (2) 11" lengths, picked up a package of stainless steel screw eye's (5/8" x 2 1/4") and used a couple of washers I had laying around. That's it.

1.) I went one rulers width in from the edge (about one inch) and marked the center (5 1/2") on each block.

2.) Drill a nice started hole in each.

3.) Painted the wood flat black

4.) Attach the rail using the screw eyes & washer. (these also act as a stop at the end of the rail.)

5.) Mount the camera & shoot! You can also remove the head from the carriage, use a 1/4" 20 thread and attache the camera directly to the carriage to get it even lower to the ground. (you will lose your pan/tilt functionality though)

This seems to be a real stable base and still gives you a good 3' of travel. You can leave the feet on and still mount it to a tripod too. If you have some little rubber feet laying around, I'm sure that would help on bare floors. Use your imagination, I bet you guys can come-up with a bunch of modification & improvements!

There you go...quick & easy. I plan on shooting some test footage in the next few days... I'll post something then.

beautiful you beat me to it, i'm doing this soon I have a few qustions for you.

how loud is it? also is there a way to adjust the friction/ drag on the rollers? if not how freely does it roll? if you mount it on an angle will it roll with gravity? is it tight eough to handle any angle at all?

also is there a way to adjust the friction/ drag on the rollers? if not how freely does it roll?

No way to adjust the friction, although there are other versions of the bearings available. It rolls very freely, with a reasonable amount of drag. Once the camera is on there (and the more weight you have on it), you'll want to start the slide motion pre-shot, unless your sliding straight in...or pulling straight back.

if you mount it on an angle will it roll with gravity? is it tight eough to handle any angle at all?

I have experimented & it does move nice and smooth when set on an angle! Just be there to catch the camera before it slides off the end.